Covered-spring structure.



. W. B. FOSTER.

COVERED SPRING STRQgCTURE.` APPLICATION FILED IuIIE 2. I9I1.`

1,287,362. Patented Deo. 17, 1918.

l INVENTOR.

Byaq/WVCM A TTORNE YS.

WILLIAM Aromen, or UTIOA, NEW YORK, Assnon To OSTER I'norrrnns MANU'- FAOTURING COMPANY, or UTIOA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.-

v COVERED-SPRING STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Dec. i7, 1918..

Application liled June 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,543.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Fos'rFR` of Utica, in the countyv of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new andto render'the springs noiseless and to prevent their wearing upon or cutting any outer casmg.

' One purpose of my present inventlon is to y provide an article of the class described having a new and improved construction and one which very thoroughly surrounds the springs with a covering in such a manner that the structure is rendered noiseless and well adapt-ed for the purpose in hand.

A further purpose is to provide a structure of the class described wherein the sepa rate springs are provided with a complete covering, comprisingan outer casing en circling the spring and an inner casing eXJ tending through the cavity of the spring.

A still further purpose is to provide a covered spring structure wherein the sepa rate springs are provided with a covering of exible material on the outside of the spring and within the cavity of the spring so that there will always be suflicient material close to the spring to enter the spaces between the coils of the spring land prevent adjacent coils from touching each other when the spring contracts. A

Yet another purpose'of my invention is to provide a structure wherein the covering of flexible material is of such form that it may be readily placed uponthe spring and arranged to form an external and an internal casing for the spring and which will be readily held in place upon the spring.

A further aim of this `invention is to pro-` vide a structure which may be economically- 'seam Another object of my invention is to provide a structure wherein the covering is of such form that it may be readily placed in posltlon upon the spring' and will be held in desired position by the clips or other means usually employed to fasten the end coils of adjacent springs to each other.

A -further object of my invention is to provide in combination with a sprin ,a tubular piece of ieXible material adapte to inclose the entire spring externally and to also extend through the cavity of the spring, whereby the hollow spring is covered internally and externally and suilicient materia] is provided to prevent adjacent coils of the spring from touching each other even when the spring is fully contracted.

Further objects and advantages of my inventlon will appear from the specification and claims herein.

Figure 1 is a. perspective-view of a cushion-seat employing a covered spring structure embodying my invention, a part of the outside covering or tick being cut away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through vtwo such covered springs as .they may be assembled to form a complete spring structure.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a tubular 'flexible covering applied to a spring, but before the ends of the tube have been turned into the cavity of the spring.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view -ofa covered ditional means used place.

Fig. 45 is a longitudinal sectional view through a covered spring, -showing a modified form of myinvention.

Fig. 6 isla similar view showing a further modification.

Referring' to the drawings in a more particular description, it will be seen that the coiled springs 10 may be of any of the usual types'of 'springs commonly usedcin cushionseats or mattresses, having opposite end coils 11 and intermediate coils 12. The springs shown' are ofthe type where the intermediate coils 12 are smaller in'diameter than the end coils 11, as that is the preferred form o springs in most spring structures where the end coils of adjacent springs are `fastened to each other, for the reason that there is less chance of interference between the intermediate coils of adjacent springs as well as. between adjacent coils of the same spring.

Q 1 A i l i Lasagna It will be understood, however, that my invention is fully as applicable when used with springs truly cylindrical in outline or even where the intermediate coils are larger than the end coils.

A separate covering 13 is provided for each spring in the form of a iece of flexible material such as cotton clot or any other desired fabric or substance suitable for the urpose in hand. This covering is of a length a little more than twice that of the lenoth of the spring to be covered and of suicient width to entirely encircle the outside of the spring. In my preferred form of construction the covering 13 is formed into a tube as by sewing the opposite side edges of the covering together by a seam 14 previous to the covering being placed upon the spring. I prefer to form a covering into'this tube and to form it into this tube previous to the covering being placed upon the spring, as that form of construction makes the most effective covering for the spring, uses the least amount of cloth possible while still obtaining the full benefit of my invention and furthermore is the quickest, most convenient and most economical way of having the piece of flexible Inaterial form the outer casing for the spring. It will be understood of course that the side edges of the covering might 4be sewed together after the covering was placed about the spring or that a wider piece of the covering material might be used and so fastened to the spring as to cover it completely without strictly forming a tube. These forms, however, are less efficient in results and more expensive of work or material. I

intend such forms of'construction, however,-

to be within the scope of some of the claims hereinafter set forth.

After the covering 13 has been placed -upon the spring so as to inclose its outer surface, whether by slipping the spring into the tube or by forming the covering material about the spring, there will be in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 enough of the opposite free ends 15 and 16 of said covering 13 to be turned back into the cavity of the spring 10 `to have said ends meet and preferably pass each other for a little distance within the cavity of the spring. The construction will then be as plainly shown in Figs 1, 2 and 4, with the central part' of Ithe covering 13 forming an outerv casing inclosing the outer surface of the spring as a whole, while the inturned ends 15 and 16 will together form an inner casing following more or less closely the shape of the cavity of the spring. On account of the surplus material inside the spring, incident to the inside being' considerably smaller than the outside and incident also to the inturned ends overlapping more or less, the material of the inturned ends will lie in folds occu-pying a good deal of the cavity. This arrangement will tend to make some of the material .press outward against the inner surface ofthe springs. Themturned ends moreover, on account of this surplus material and on account of lying in folds and the inturned ends passing each other, will tend to remain within the cavity of the spring both when the spring is extended andwhen it is contracted.

In order to prevent the covering from being displaced from or working endwise from the springs, I provide means for holding that portion of the covering which is about the end coils to the end coils. The result of using these fastening means is to positively hold the outer casing from moving endwise upon the spring, and this in practice holds the covering as a whole sufficiently upon the springs to overcome any tendency of the intucked ends to work out of the cavity of the spring. The means for holding the part of the covering about the end coils to the end coilsmay be of any desired construction adapted to the purpose such as clips 17 of rigid material or stitches or knots of thread or string. I have shown in the drawings clips used for that purpose.

.When a plurality of covered springs embodying my invention are to be used together to form a cushion-seat or a mattress the clips 17 or other fastening means used to hold the covering upon the springs need not be placed upon the springs until the springs are brought together into the cushion-seat or mattress. Then the clips 17 or other fastening means used will operate to fasten together or connect the end coils of adjacent springs in a manner common to constructions of this sort as well as to hold the coverings 13 upon the separate springs 10.

It will now be seen that a covered spring structure constructed in accordance with this invention provides a separate covering for each coiled spring, and this separate covering forms a complete casing about the outside surface of the spring and also forms a complete casing about the inner surface of the spring or through the cavity of the spring. As the springs are compressed in use, these two casings will feld up bellowsfashion, forming avery eflicient and very continuous cushion between the adjacent coils of tlsx same spring, thus preventing the springs grinding upon each other or making any noise. On account of the amount of material of the covering within the cavity of a spring and especially its folded disposition.v the material within the spring will especially tend to force its way outward through the coils of the spring as the spring contracts. As in my preferred formv both the outer casing and the inner easing are tubular'in form, the material will tend to lli remain close about the spring and so draw into or hold itself within the general cylindrical space occupied by the spring.

On account of each spring having an individual outer casing and an individualinner casing both 'extending the full'length ofthe spring and holding itself into the space of the sprin it will be seen that the chance of any two are portions of a spring coming together is veryremote indeed. Experience and observation show that the slack material within the spring tends to shove out into any place where the outer casing is not pressing into the circle of the spring, and on the other hand that the outer casing tends to draw inward into any space where there is not sufficient of the inner casing to make a cushion.

Where as is usually the case in this class of covered spring construction, springs are used having their intermediate coils smaller than the end coils, the complete cushioning of the springs as they contract is especially efficient. The smaller intermediate coils permit the outer casing to fold inwardly and at the same time through providing a smaller cavity for the inturned ends increase the tendency of the inturned ends to shove their material sidewise between the coils of the springs.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of my mnstruction, in that the inturned ends-of the covering are positively held in place within the eavit of the spring by fastening them to the adyacent portion of the outer casing as bystitches -or knots 18. These fastenings will preferably be made at the point where theinturned endscome together or pass, so that the same fastening will hold bot-h intur'ned ends. at that point. One or t'wo such fastening means are enough for the purpose even under -the most trying conditions. In ordinary work these fastening means are not found necessary, but may be used as an added precaution against the inturned ends accidentally coming out from the cavity.

The modifications shown in Figs. 5 and G consist lin having the ends of the piece of flexible material or the tubular material fastened to each other after the material has been placed upon the spring so as to form the inner and outer casing heretofore mentioned. Suitable fastening means of any desired form may be used and enough will be used to keep the ends from gaping apart or exposing anypart of the contained spring. A convenient and a preferred forni of fastening said ends together consists as shown in the drawing of sewing the meeting ends.

of the flexible material together 'by a seam 19 extending the ent-ire circumference of the material as arranged upon the spring. lVlien i the ends of the covering are thusfastened together it will be obvious that the covering may be arranged upon the spring in a variety ofways. In Fig. 5 I have shown the the covering as arranged upon the spring L with the seam 19 and the meeting ends of the covering just within one end of the cavity of the spring. It will be obvious that when the ends of the flexible covering are thus simply fastened to each other the seam may be placed anywhere desired, since the covering is now doubled and has its ends securely fastened to each other and can be shifted as desired upon the spring as by moving the seam down from the position shown in Fig. 6 in either direction so as to have it inside or outside the spring. The seam may be left in the position it occupies when the ends of the tube are connected by a sewing operation or may be shifted to any desired position. When the ends of the covering are thus fastened together there is of course no possibility of any part of the spring being exposed, no matter how the covering may shift about upon the springs. Ordinarily when the ,springs are fastened together as by clips such as 19 the covering previously loose relative to the spring will become fixed in place. The spring, however, will be provided with the outer and inner casing contemplated by' my invention and said casings will be free to form a. cushion between the coils of the spring as heretofore 'pointed out.

Further modifications in the structure and changes in the proportion or relative position of the parts may obviously be made without departing from the spirit of my inlvention as pointed out in the claims here.-

after.

What I claim as new and' desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring and a covering therefor consisting of a piece of flexible material substantially twice' the length of the spring, inclosing the spring and with its opposite ends tucked into the cavity of the spring and passing each other.

2. n an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring and a covering thereforconsisting of a piecel of flexible material substantially twice the length of the spring, inclosing the spring and with its opposite ends tucked into the cavity of the spring and meeting each other.

3. In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring and a covering therefor consisting of a. piece of fiexible material, inclosing the spring and with its `opposite ends tucked into and coming together within the cavity of the spring.

l Lt. In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring, a covering llO .for holding'the covering upon the spring.

5.' In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring, a covering therefor consisting of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring .and with its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within the cavity of the spring and means for holding the intucked ends in place.

6. In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring, a covering therefor consisting of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and with its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within the cavity of the spring and means for holding the intucked ends to the adjacent portion of the outer casing.

7. In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring, a covering therefor consisting of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and with its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within. the cavity of the spring and means for holding the intucked ends in place by fastening them together and to the adjacent portion of the outer casing. 4

8. In an article of the class described, the combination of a c'oiled spring, a covering therefor consisting of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and with its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within the cavity ofthe spring, means for fastening the covering to theend coils of the spring and means for holding the .intucked ends in place. l

9. In an article of* the class described, the combination of a coiled spring, a covering therefor consisting of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and with its op- -posite ends tucked into and coming together within the cavity of the spring, means for fastening the'covering to the endcoils ot' the spring and means forholding the .intucked ends in place by fastening them to the adjacent portion of the outer casing.

10. In an article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring and a covering therefor consisting of a tubular piece of flexible material inclosing Ithe outside of the spring and extending through the cavity of the spring. c

11. Inan article of the class described, the combination of a coiled spring, a covering therefor consisting of a tubular piece -of flexible material inclosing the outside of the spring and extending through the cavity of the spring and means for holding the meeting ends of said tubular piece together.

l2. In a covered spring structure, the combination of a plurality of coiled springs of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and having its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within the cavity of the spring and a single means for holding the coverings in place upon the springs and for connecting adjacent springs.

13. In a. covered spring structure, the combination of a plurality of coiled springs standing side by side in the structure, separate coverings for each spring consisting of a piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and having its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within the cavity of the spring and means grasping the end coils of adjacent springs and the separate coverings thereabout, whereby the coverings are held in place upon the springs and adjacent springs a-re held together.

14. In a covered spring structure, the combination of a plurality of coiled springs standing side by side in the structure, separate coverings for each spring consisting of a tubular piece of flexible material inclosing the spring and having its opposite ends tucked into and coming together Within the cavity of the spring and means for grasping the end coils of adjacent springs and the separate coverings thereabout Whereby the coverings are held in place upon the springs and adjacent springs are held togethen 15. In a covered spring structure the combination of coiled springs standing side by holdingthe coverings in place upon the springs and for connecting the end coils of adjacent springs. f

16. In a. covered spring structure the combination of a plurality .of coiled springs standing side by side, separate covers for each spring consisting of a tubular piece of flexible material inclosing the outside of the spring, extending through the cavity of the spring and having its ends come together wherebyV an external casing and an internal ,casing are provided'for each spring, means holding thev meeting edges of the tubular material together and means for holding the covering in place upon the'springs and for connecting the end coils of adjacent springs. In Witness whereof I have aflixed my signature this 29th day of May 1917.

WILLIAM B. FOSTER. 

